The Great Pollinator Count

Written by Susan Edwards Richmond · Illustrated by Stephanie Fizer Coleman

Part of the Community Science Counts! series

Can teamwork turn a bug-averse kid into a pollinator enthusiast?

4.5/5 Goodreads · 51 ratings

32 pages

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Bookroo's summary

Mellie is thrilled for the Great Pollinator Count, but when paired with Jason, a classmate who dislikes bugs, her excitement turns to challenge. As they explore the school garden, Mellie must convince Jason to embrace the world of honeybees and butterflies. Will their partnership blossom into a shared passion for pollinators, or will Jason's aversion to insects prevail? Join Mellie and Jason on a journey of discovery, where teamwork and curiosity might just change everything. Dive into this engaging tale and see if they can count on each other to make a difference.

From the publisher

Mellie joins other Science Club members for the Great Pollinator Count and discovers the value of teamwork in community science. Today Mellie and her friends are excited to participate in The Great Pollinator Count. Everyone is hoping that the school garden will attract even more pollinators than they counted last year. Mellie and her friend Sylvie invite Jason, a new kid in their class, to come along. When Jason surprises them by showing up for the count, they find out that he is not at all interested in counting icky bugs. Mellie is unprepared when Ms. Bombus, their teacher, assigns her to be Jason’s partner. Making the best of an awkward situation, Mellie tries to show Jason how to look for honeybees, butterflies, and other insect pollinators among the lantana and bee balm plants. He hangs back at first, still not convinced he wants to be that close to these buzzy insects, but it isn’t long before he is looking for pollinators on his own. By the time the whistle blows to end the count, both kids have learneda lot about pollinators and discovered the rewards of teamwork in community science. Young readers can count along with Mellie and Jason as they record each insect that lands on a flower and list them on the sidebar tally sheets. When Ms. Bombus finally calls “Time’s up,” readers will be ready to join a pollinator count in their own community! Stephanie Fizer Coleman’s charming illustrations give readers a “bug’s eye” view of the pollination counting process. In the back matter, the author provides a detailed glossary, resources, and information about America’s largest regional pollinator count.

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